G Lynn Geddie                                                      e-mail: info@americanvetpowerof1.com  

RE: A Call for Young Writers- Essay project Launch

If I may, I want to share with you an idea I am working on with my teenage son, Reid.  As an educator or Homeschooler Network I hope you will become as excited as we are about this project.  After much research into my own father’s military role in WWII he has written an essay about his grandfather for a class project at his Middle School in Newnan, GA.  We both came away from the finished project with a greater appreciation and deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by all of our veterans.  As well, Reid gained a wealth of knowledge about the grandfather he never met which gave him a real and lasting connection to him.  Further, this project increased his ability to be familiar with, and learn to develop an accurate essay format. 

Our request is a simple one really.  Would you be interested in listing the project on your site or in your newsletters for teens that have relatives or role models who are veterans that might want to participate in submitting story for possible inclusion in a collection honoring our veterans?  The teen can write about any veteran that served in WWII or any period all the way through to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are asked to have their parent or guardian sign a form to give us permission to publish the essays that will be chosen for inclusion in a book of the collection©.  This project is free and open to all teens between the ages of 13 and 17.  The top essay winner will receive a (2010) summer camp experience, titled MISSION QUEST at Warner Robins Museum of Aviation (this project is listed on the Education page of the museum’s web site: www.musuemofaviation.org ) and the 2^nd place winner will receive a $50. cash prize.  None of the entrant’s contact information will be shared with any entity or organization except the aviation museum which will be given the winner’s information so that arrangements for camp can be made.  This project is sponsored privately by our family with the camp scholarship donated in memory of our father and grandfather a WWII pilot and American veteran.  All teen authors who have an essay chosen will be given a certificate of merit.  This will help Reid with his independent study putting together the collection; as a community project he plans to present it at his school’s Veteran’s Day program in November and give a copy to our local VFW.

In offering this project to our teens it is my hope that we can achieve several initiatives; as mentioned, the teen will make a real connection to those who have made individual sacrifices for the betterment of our country; learn to distinguish the difference between what great courage or strength of character is and that of fame or celebrity; and last, will foster an awareness that our veterans are the true mentors and role models for all Americans.  I have found throughout my life that learning comes through active participation in a task and feel the younger generation is in need of understanding what is truly important for the continued success of America.  Our goal is to receive hundreds of essays and publish the best essays in a book, therefore giving as many teens as possible exposure to this learning experience©.  Registration is free through our website; the deadline for essays is October 15, 2009.

If you are interested and can post our essay project please contact us at: info@americanvet.com, the above e-mail or visit our website to learn more about us at: www.americanvetpowerof1.com. Our website features the guidelines and essay criteria and more about who we are and why we are sponsoring this project. Thank you in advance for your help and please contact me with any questions or comments. 

Sincerely,

Lynn M. Geddie,

Newnan, Georgia

Daughter of Capt. Dave Matison, Jr. WWII CBI Hump Pilot            

Contact information:  info@americanvetpowerof1.com